Some Perspective — I don't disagree with PG when he says that Facebook's IPO performance (or lack thereof) has the potential to impact valuations in startup land. I think it will be particularly impactful on the late stage and secondary markets where most of the IPO valuation speculation is happening.

Apple and Google Expand Their Battle to Mobile Maps — Google's Eric Schmidt, left, and Apple's Steve Jobs, right, in 2008. The relationship deteriorated as their companies competed. — Since they got together in 2007, the iPhone and Google Maps have seemed like ideal digital bedfellows.

R.I.P. Zune — Microsoft is sending Zune to the pasture where Microsoft brands go to die. It's the end of the road for a name that once symbolized Microsoft's grand plans to curb Apple's entertainment ambitions. — In a flurry of announcements that Microsoft made Monday at the E3 games conference …

Rethinking Privacy in an Era of Big Data — Some years ago an engineer at Google told me why Google wasn't collecting information linked to people's names. “We don't want the name. The name is noise.” There was enough information in Google's large database of search queries, location …

Facebook comments, ads don't sway most users: poll — (Reuters) - Four out of five Facebook Inc users have never bought a product or service as a result of advertising or comments on the social network site, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows, the latest sign that much more needs to be done to turn …

Microsoft Xbox Is Winning The Living Room War. Here's Why. — Cookie Monster wants a snack. Sure, he could have a handful of you-know-whats, but even a Muppet has to watch his waistline. So he decides to grab something healthful. “Maybe if me jump up and down, me can shake fruit out of this tree …

World's Oldest BitTorrent Site Shuts Down — Founded in 2003, UK-based FileSoup was one of the original torrent sites. — When the site started there was no Pirate Bay, no Torrentz, and isoHunt wasn't searching .torrent files yet. FileSoup outlived many of the sites that sprung up around …

Apple Denied Ban On Samsung Tablet Computer Sales In U.S. — Apple Inc. (AAPL) was denied its renewed request for a ban on U.S. sales of Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer while the case is still before a federal court of appeals. — U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose …

Netflix Rolls Out Its Own CDN: Open Connect — Netflix announced today that it is rolling out a new content delivery network of its own, called Open Connect, which will reduce its costs of delivery and could improve delivery of its content. But Open Connect isn't just about reducing …

Twitter's Co-founder Biz Stone To Pen Book — Twitter co-founder Biz Stone is writing a book called Things A Little Bird Told Me. In the book, Stone will talk about his experience, which includes a stint at Google, co-founding Twitter and his latest venture The Obvious Corporation …

Microsoft SmartGlass: Xbox Live Companion on steroids? — As many of my readers know, I'm not a video game fan, nor I am I a big TV fan. So sitting virtually through a two-hour E3 keynote address, chock-full of video game first-person-shooter previews...kill me now (pun intended).

Isolationist no more: The Internet goes to Washington — Today's launch of a new think tank call DisCo that wants to educate Congress about disruptive technologies is just one of several new efforts proposed by the Internet and startup community to get their voices heard.

Silicon Valley as the New Hollywood — Their wedding was on the covers of the gossip magazines. Every moment of their honeymoon documented across the Web. A lavish boat ride and a stroll down Italy's old cobbled streets, each footstep photographed by the paparazzi.

Facebook faces another lawsuit over IPO disclosures — Second lawsuit claims the social network misled investors by “selectively disclosing” material information about its revenue outlook. — Follow @stevenmusil — Facebook has been served with another lawsuit related to its IPO …